PEARL IN A BAKED CLAM

by RALPH H. PETERSON
(CHICAGO,IL. U.S.A.)

ME,MY WIFE AND MY SON DECIDED TO WALK TO DOWNTOWN LISLE, ILLINOIS, JUST OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO, ON THE BEAUTIFUL EVENING OF JUNE 25TH 2011. THERE WAS A SMALL CAR SHOW AND WE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORS AFTER WE ATE DINNER. WE DECIDED TO EAT AT THE ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN TOWN CALLED VINI'S. TO OUR SURPRISE ONE OF OUR SON'S OLD TEAMATES FOR THE BASEBALL TEAM THAT I COACHED YEARS AGO WAS WORKING THERE. THAT WAS A SURPRISE IN ITSELF, BUT AS AN APPETIZER I ORDERED A HALF DOZEN BAKED CLAMS AND IN ONE OF THE CLAMS WAS A FAIRLY GOOD SIZE PEARL THAT I NEARLY CHOKED ON. AT FIRST I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT AND PUT IT ON A SEPARATE PLATE. THEN LATER ON AT HOME I LOOKED UP PEARLS FROM A CLAM ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT HOW RARE THEY REALLY ARE. KIND OF WILD.. MAYBE IT'S SOME KIND OF OMEN.....................